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Kestrel ' Cernicalo Vulgar

Species: Kestrel – Falco tinnunculus – Cernícalo Vulgar

Figure 1: Kestrel femalePolytypic. Nominate tinnunculus, west Palearctic east to north-east Siberia, Mongolia, and Pamir; canariensis, western Canary Islands; dacotiae, eastern Canary Islands; neglectus, northern Cape Verde Islands; alexandri, south-east Cape Verde Islands; rupicolaeformis, Egypt south to northern Sudan, east to Arabia. Extralimital: c. 5 races in Africa and Asia.Common and widespread resident. Breeds over a wide range of habitats, even urban areas, although always requires open type spaces with some ground cover for feeding. Densities of population are clearly demarked by habitat type, for example the Doñana has very high population densities in areas of open grassland habits. Some increase in numbers during winter as migrants from the north join resident populations. Also migration can be witnessed in spring and autumn, thought only to involve populations from outside of the province.

Figure 2: Lesser Kestrel male left Common Kestrel male rightAuthor's note:Difficulties separating this species from Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni are experienced by observers and a very useful comparative guide has been published for these 2 species on the member’s area of the main Andalucia Bird Society website. The figure to the left shows an adult male Lesser Kestrel (left) and an adult male Common Kestrel (right). Simple enough to see the difference, but in the field it can be hard to separate them. The females and juveniles can sometimes be nigh impossible, even for the most experienced observer!